Tamping device



Dec. 23, 1952 s. J. RUTKA 2,622,434

TAMPING DEVICE Filed July 16. 1949 lNVENTOR STANLEY J. RUTKA BY W tube.

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UN] TED STATES TENT IFFI'CE This invention relates to a device for filling'and 1 tampingholes'in concrete or similar'structures.

It is common in the construction of poured concretestructures to use wall ties 'to hold the forms together, these ties extend through the fc'oncr'ete wall, and at least a portion of same'must be' left in the concrete after the forms are removed. The most popular wall tie seems to be one which'comprises "a'pair of 'threaded'pi'ns, and

an internally threaded connector tube into which the pins are screwed, one into each end of the This'connec'to'r tube "is left in the wall after the pins 'which hold the forms in "place,

and the forms, are removed. Obviously, there will be andisfa hole in the concrete wall where [the pinsare removed, and-this hole'mus't be filled tightly to prevent the formation of ice in cold weather. Theexpansion of the ice would in time cause the surrounding concrete to weaken and eventually spawl 'ofi. This condition would in turn cause more ice to form causing more damage.

A repetition of this condition would necessitate major repairs unless holes are properly filled. On big construction jobs, this detail becomes an important consideration.

No satisfactory means has-heretofore been devised-to fill these holes efiiciently, and it is one'of my principal objects to provideadevice forfilling these holes and tamping the filler firmly in a most efiicient manner.

Another object is to provide a filler and tamper which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which is efficient and easy to operate.

Another object is to provide a hole filler and tamper which may be operated easily either in high or low places.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

In the drawing the reference numeral I indicates the body portion of my device which is preferably an elongated tube open at both ends.

Extending within and through the tube l is a ram-rod 2 which is of greater length than the tube I so that it may extend outwardly of the tube on both sides thereof and is preferably of a slightly smaller diameter than the bore of the tube or body portion I the reason for which will become apparent later in the description. One

end of the rod 2 has a hand hold 3, preferably a a. a substantially spherical knob'formed 'integi'al with the rod, to provide a good-hold for th'e rod so that it may be reciprocated manually: within the tubular body portiongand alsofor'we'ight to 'give added impetus to the tamping rod on its forward thrust thus insuring a firmly tamped hole.

The tube or body portion i is provided with an elongated 'slot 4, and a pin 5 extends into the slot from the rod 2 to limit the reciprocation of the rod within the tube.

A hole 6 is made through the tube adjacent the forward end thereof, and a material carrying hopper l is fixed to the tube over the hole 6 to discharge therethrough into the tube. The forward wall 8 of the hopper is preferably of subs'tantially triangular shape and disposed vertically with respect to the tube, as shown,'and the side and rear walls of the hopper incline toward the hole to form an inverted cone-like hopper.

A handle or'handhold 9 is provided for convenience in'holding the tamping devi'cefor operation, especially in low places, and in addition, the

handle 5 extends between the tube and the uppermost edge of the rear wall of the hopper, thereby providing a brace and support for the hopper in addition to the hand hold.

As shown in the drawing, the forwardend '10 of the tube I projects just slightly forwardly of the'forward wall 8 of the hopperyand is tapered inwardly to form a seat whereby the'en d "H1 may be pressed firmly against a hole to be filled and tamped without danger of the tamping device slipping out of place while being operated.

In operation, the hopper is filled with tamping material, usually a dry mixture of cement and sand, and the end Ill is pressed against a hole to be filled. The plunger or ramrod 2 is pulled back to its limit, and thus brings the forward end of the rod 2 back beyond the opening 6 in the tube, letting tamping material fall into the tube. Only a limited amount of material can enter the tube, of course, and as the plunger rod 2 is pushed forwardly the material which entered the tube is pushed out of the forward end of the tube and into the hole. The rod 2 may be manipulated so as to tamp the material in the hole thoroughly before it is pulled all the way back to let more material into the tube, and thus thehole may be filled and thoroughly tamped in a most convenient and expeditious manner. Ordinarily one forward and backward movement of the rod is all that is required for each amount of mix that falls into the tube. The size of hole 6 governs the number of strokes required.

Sometimes the hole to be tamped is quite high up where it may not be convenient to use the hand hold 9 to hold the tamper, yet the plunger 2 may be manipulated conveniently. To accommodate such circumstances I have provided a second handle I l which is pivotally carried on the under side of the tube 1 by means of a pair of lugs l2 and a pin 13. This handle H provides convenient means for holding the device in high positions, and still, due to its pivotal mounting, does not limit the use of the device in low positions, such as adjacent the bottom of the wall where it abuts the ground.

The reason for the tamping rod or plunger being of smaller diameter than the bore of the tube l is to insure its free reciprocation in the tube and its being able to force the tamping material from the tube into the hole, as it has been found that if the tamper rod is of substantially the same size as the bore of the tube there is a tendency for the material to become clogged between rod and tube.

A weep hole l4 may be provided in the under side of the tube I if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I forward end of said body portion adapted to be held against the hole to be filled to position said body portion in substantial axial alinement into said hole, a plunger of greater length than said body portion and carried within same, said plunger being extendable from one end of said body portion into said hole, a hopper for said material fixed to the forward end portion of said body portion, said body portion having an opening therein communicating with said hopper to permit material to pass from said hopper into said tube, and said plunger being reciprocable within said body ortion to push material from said body portion into the hole to be filled and to tamp material within said hole, said plunger being of a size to close said opening on its forward stroke, and being movable rearwardly to open said opening to permit material to enter said body portion when desired.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 and means to limit the stroke of said plunger within said body portion.

Cal

3. A combination hole filler and tamper comprising a tube, positioning means at the forward end of said tube for use in positioning the tube in substantial axial alinement with a hole to be filled, a plunger carried within said tube and being of greater length than said tube so as to be extendable from one end of said tube into the hole to be filled, a material carrying hopper fixed to the forward end portion of said tube, said tube having an opening therein communicating with said hopper to permit material from said hopper to enter said tube when said plunger is in a rearward position, and said plunger being reciprocable within said tube to move material from said hopper through the end of said tube and into the hole to be filled and to tamp the material within the hole to be filled selectively.

4. A device for filling holes with dry mix material and tamping the material firmly comprising a tube, positioning means at the forward end of said tube for use in positioning said tube in substantial alinement with said hole, a plunger of slightly smaller diameter than the inside of said tube carried within said tube, said plunger being of greater length than said tube so as to be extendable from both ends thereof, a material carrying hopper fixed to the forward end portion of said tube, said tube having an opening therein communicating with said hopper to permit material from said hopper to enter said tube, and said plunger being reciprocable within said tube to a point rearwardly of said opening to move material from said hopper through the end of said tube and into the hole to be filled, and being reciprocable forwardly of said opening and externally of said tube to tamp the material within the hole to be filled while said tube is held adjacent one of said holes.

STANLEY J. RUTKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

